What is it prescribed for?
MYQORZO is used to treat adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). This is a heart condition where the heart muscle becomes too thick and blocks blood flow out of the heart, making it hard to exercise or even do daily activities. It was approved by the FDA December 2025.
MYQORZO is prescribed to help:
- Improve exercise ability
- Reduce shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue
- Improve overall quality of life
What is the name of the drug and what does it do?
The drug is called MYQORZO™ (aficamten). It is a type of medicine known as a cardiac myosin inhibitor.
MYQORZO works by reducing how strongly the heart muscle squeezes. This helps lower the blockage inside the heart and allows blood to flow more easily.
How does it work?
In oHCM, the heart squeezes too forcefully, which causes blockage and symptoms. MYQORZO works by:
- Slowing down the heart’s muscle contraction
- Reducing pressure in the heart’s outflow tract
- Helping the heart pump more smoothly and efficiently
Because it directly affects heart strength, careful monitoring is required.
What did the research discover?
In a large clinical study called SEQUOIA-HCM, patients taking MYQORZO for 24 weeks showed meaningful benefits compared to placebo:
- Improved ability to exercise (higher oxygen use during activity)
- Less blockage of blood flow from the heart
- Better symptom scores and daily functioning
- Fewer patients needed invasive heart procedures
Many improvements were seen as early as 2 to 8 weeks and lasted throughout treatment.
What are some of the side effects?
MYQORZO can cause serious side effects, especially related to heart function.
The most important risk is heart failure, which is why regular heart imaging is required.
Possible side effects include:
- High blood pressure (the most common side effect)
- Reduced heart pumping strength
- Shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, fatigue, or chest pain
- Worsening heart rhythm problems
MYQORZO must not be taken with certain medicines, such as rifampin, because they can make the drug unsafe or ineffective.
What are the dosage recommendations and how is it prescribed?
MYQORZO is taken once daily by mouth, with or without food.
Treatment is carefully adjusted for each patient:
- Starting dose is 5 mg once daily
- Dose may be increased every 2 to 8 weeks based on heart ultrasound results
- Maximum dose is 20 mg once daily
Doctors regularly check heart function using echocardiograms. If heart pumping strength drops too low, the dose may be lowered or temporarily stopped.
Because of safety concerns, MYQORZO is only available through a special safety program (REMS) that requires:
- Certified prescribers
- Patient enrollment
- Ongoing heart monitoring
Source:
MYQORZO™ (aficamten) tablets, for oral use [prescribing information]. South San Francisco (CA): Cytokinetics, Inc.; 2025 Dec. Accessed by: FDA label MYQORZO. Accessed by: https://www.myqorzohcp.com/about-ohcm/
